Tarique Rahman’s Khulna visit on Thursday produced a series of announcements aimed at reviving industry in the country’s southwest, from a proposed industrial corridor to a major port expansion and a pledge on workers’ pay. The Prime Minister spent the day in Bagerhat and Khulna, where he combined infrastructure events with a public engagement programme for young people.
A Corridor From Mongla to Panchagarh
The most far-reaching proposal was the plan for an industrial corridor. The Prime Minister said the corridor would stretch from Mongla in the southwest to Panchagarh in the north, with the aim of reviving struggling industrial regions, attracting investment and creating jobs through expanded port facilities, energy infrastructure and improved connectivity. dhakatribune
He said the government would develop the electricity, gas and transport infrastructure needed to attract factories along the route gradually. He also pledged to reopen closed factories while encouraging new industries to be established. The promise carries particular weight in Khulna, where the closure of industrial units over the years has left many local families seeking work. dhakatribune
Mongla Port at the Centre of the Plans
The first programme of the day took place at Mongla Port. The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of a Tk4,068 crore project to expand and modernise the port. The event also included the construction of two container jetties and ancillary infrastructure, along with a memorandum of understanding between Invest Bangladesh and China Railway Construction Corporation. dhakatribunejagonews24
The agreement was described as an investment cooperation arrangement with a Chinese state-owned company. Mongla Port has long been regarded as an underused asset, and expanding its capacity is central to the government’s argument that the southwest can become a significant centre of trade. Upgrading its jetties would allow it to handle more cargo, which in turn would support the industrial corridor now being proposed.
Wage Pledge for Workers
Tarique Rahman’s Khulna visit also carried a message for labour. He said the wage board formed for the garment sector had already started reviewing workers’ demands and would set a new minimum wage within one to two months. He added that the government was working to expand business and create jobs. bdnews24
During a roadside rally at Katakhali on the Khulna-Mongla highway, he warned against attempts to derail national progress. He said his administration would stand with the people, working families and labourers against conspirators, guided by a principle of putting Bangladesh first. The remarks reflected a concern that industrial unrest could undermine the investment the government is trying to attract. tob
Youth Programme and Shrine Visit
The programme was not confined to economic announcements. The Prime Minister travelled to the shrine of Hazrat Khan Jahan Ali in Bagerhat before continuing to Khulna. He was also scheduled to attend the inaugural ceremony of Notun Kuri Sports, Season 2, at Khulna District Stadium. At the event, he shook hands with young players taking part in the national talent search initiative. jagonews24
He said the government was committed to fulfilling its election promises and to developing the next generation through education and extracurricular activities. The pairing of port investment and youth sport reflected an effort to present the visit as both an economic and a social undertaking. dhakatribune
Public Expectations in Khulna
The reception in the city was warm. Thousands of people thronged streets across the city and district to welcome the Prime Minister, according to BSS. A local BNP leader told the agency that residents hoped the visit would lead to the reopening of closed industries, employment for young people and a revival of the region’s economic potential. bssnews
Those hopes now rest on delivery. Foundation stones and agreements signed on a single day do not by themselves create factories or jobs, and the proposed industrial corridor will depend on reliable power, gas supply and transport links that remain to be built. The wage board’s timetable of one to two months will also be closely watched by workers and employers.
Tarique Rahmans Khulna Visit: What Comes Next
The announcements set out a clear direction for the southwest, with Mongla Port as its anchor and the industrial corridor as its wider framework. The test will be whether the investment agreements translate into construction, whether closed factories reopen and whether the new minimum wage arrives on schedule. For residents who gathered along the route on Thursday, Tarique Rahman’s Khulna visit has raised expectations that the government will now be expected to meet.
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